newbe and more stupid questions

[Stormingheaven]

Please don’t bet me up to bad. I’m brand new at this (first class is in two weeks). I have always wanted my dive certification and have decided that I’m going to just do it. In doing so I’ve been asking a number of people questions about equipment needs. Dealers mostly. I know I’ll rent some at first but I also know that I’ll just have to own my own.

I will be doing most of my diving in and around the great lakes with an occasional trip to Florida and the Caribbean. The advice I’ve gotten might just price me out of diving all together. I’ve been told that if I want a good regulator that I can use in the cold waters of the great lakes I’m going to want a Poseidon. Now I can understand wanting good equipment but at $750 for a first and second stage and another $300+ for an octo. Add in $625 for a new BC., wet suit, etc. I don’t think I can afford it. Or more important the wife will start to cut off some of my more, um, recreational parts. I’ve seen a number of Poseidon regulators for sale used at what might be a good price, but what should I be looking out for.

The big question is what equipment would you all be looking at? I don’t want to end up wanting to upgrade soon after I start diving. Next thing is I see diving as something fun to do. I don’t see myself going out every weekend nor in the cold weather.

Any advice you all can give me would be greatly appreciated.

 

[jonnythan]

Buy online and used, save tons of $$. A quality top of the line regulator and octo can be easily bought for $400 total brand new.

Wetsuit $150. BC $250.

It's not a cheap hobby, but it doesn't have to be very expensive.

 

[ScubaFreak]

Jonnythan's right,

It ain't that cheap a holiday, but the good news is, when you get your equipment, provided you take good care of it, it'll last you for years and years.

And don't sweat it- we've all been in the starting blocks but once you get hooked you'll be surprised where you find the money to feed your addiction

Hey and welcome to site by the way!
Good luck,

Scubafreak

 

[The Kraken]

OK, Big John, are you ready to receive your thrashing about buying on-line from the "life support equipment warranty" brigade?

 

[The Kraken]

Welcome to a great site, Stormingheaven . . .
There are some excellent resources on this board to enhance your diving experiences. You will come to recognize them.

There's nothing quite like diving . . .

the K

 

[Jozefrh]

Hi John,

Work with your dive instructor. They know its expensive and many will work with you to save what you can. Sometimes you can get used equipment from your local shop because the users have given up diving or upgraded their equipment.
If you buy used:1. have it serviced!! 2. check to make sure its not too old for your local shop to work on 3. on used its all buyer beware.
That said I have purchased used equipment and been happy. I have purchased used and been not so happy. As my dive instructor says "how much is that next breath of air worth to you at sixty feet?" lol

Joe

 

[jonnythan]

OK, Big John, are you ready to receive your thrashing about buying on-line from the "life support equipment warranty" brigade?

Do you think I care?

 

[Ishie]

Whew! $1675 as a starting outfit!

No thanks.

My start:
Fins: $60
Boots: $30
Gloves: $20
Mask: $40
Snorkel: $40 (regret going so high on that one)
BC: $50

Rented wetsuit (should have bought sooner) and regs for a while.

Owned gear: $240 to start

Now I have the gear config that *I* really like, and I dive cold water, so once I discovered what I like, I ended up with a lot of money into my gear, but also, most of my big ticket items were gifts. Make use of birthdays and holidays!

Going for functional and safe for CW diving:

Fins: $75
Boots: $40
Gloves: $30
Mask: $50
Snorkel: $25
Wetsuit: $175
BC: $250
Regulator: $200
Octo: $100
Console: $75
Computer: $200

Total: $1220, which is cheaper, and you can get lucky on grabbing some of this stuff, like I got my nice little B'Air computer for $100 used off this site! Also, rent rent rent. Might want to get the wetsuit early on because comfort is important, but my first BC was 50 bucks off Ebay for an old ScubaPro that was plenty functional, but for a girl, not wildly comfortable. Instructors often have used gear they're looking to sell, so that can be a good source. I got my console off my instructor used. Stuff adds up; don't get me wrong, but you can do so slowly and enjoy diving in the meantime. If someone told me how much I would end up spending at the beginning, I'd have said "No way!!!", but since I've accumulated things gradually, it's not until I set my gear aside (camera included) and add it all up that I say: "Whoa!"

 

[ScubaScott]

Diving isn't inexpensive. Period. But any other sport/hobby that you take seriously costs money as well. Like others have said, you'll be surprised where you can come up with the cash to feed your scuba habit. I have friends who pay thousands a year to boat, snowmobile, ski/snowboard, climb, or *play golf*......

Johnny's right on. You can pick up a new Apeks reg, thats just as good in cold water as a Poseidon, complete for about $400. I don't knock the Poseidons as I still dive mine, but I prefer my Apeks....

$650 for a BC? Run dude, run. At that price, I'm guessing your looking at some "tech" style BC? (Please tell me that stab jackets aren't retailing at that price!) Lots of BC's (both new and used, at your LDS or Ebay) that are WAY cheaper than $650. For that price, it better have automatic bouyancy and trim control! Why not check out a backplate and wing setup. No matter what type of diving you get into, you won't outgrow it. Should be able to get your complete setup for around $400 new, (always used setups on ebay), and once you actually try one out compared to regular BC, I'm quite sure you'll be glad you did......

But, evidentely, we may be putting the wagon ahead of the horse here. Take and hopefully enjoy your classes. Get certified. Some people get hooked, and dive whenever and whereever possible. Others do a dive in Mexico once every 5 years.
I hope you get hooked and can spend thousands of dollars on dive gear like the rest of us.....

Good luck, and safe dives!

SS

 

[PugetDiver]

OK, Big John, are you ready to receive your thrashing about buying on-line from the "life support equipment warranty" brigade?

I purchased my regs/computer ($550.00) and Back flotation BC($259.00) from www.Scuba.com . Oh yeah, they also have a manufacturers warranty. Scuba.com and Scubatoys.com (these are dive shops that sell online) are decent companies to deal with. I was able to get out there with quality gear for around $1100.00 bucks. Good Luck Storming Heaven!